Stretch control of material in a textile processor



Feb. 2, 1965 F- ABE EI'AL STRETCH CONTROL OF MATERIAL IN A TEXTILE PROCESSOR Filed Feb. 27, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 P/mvr-cmrr /o 0 0 PIPESE r L 53539: #56 co u/v TE}? 50 46] 36 INVENTORS' FZ/J'm x455 BY JOHN M. Own/z STRETCH CONTROL OF MATERIAL IN A TEXTILE PROCESSOR Filed Feb. 27, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 2, 1965 F. ABE ETAL STRETCH CONTROL. OF MATERIAL IN A TEXTILE PROCESSOR Filed Feb. 2'7, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WQT a 224 I A 226 E4gwk 2 COUNTERS Calls UPPER L/M IT SWITCH 1014 5? L/M/T T col/N751? s WITCH 2% INVENTORS 7 0w 0 A 5 5 United States Patent 3,167,848 STRETCH CONTROL OF MATERIAL IN A TEXTILE PROCESSOR Fujio Abe, Greensboro, and John V. Cauthen, Franklinton, N.C., assignors to Burlington Industries, Inc.., Greensboro, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 261,277 12 Claims. {CL 28-28) This invention relates to the textile industry, and particularly to improvements in textile processors, especially slashes or apparatus for sizing warp yarn or thereads preparatory to winding the yarn on a loom beam and the insertion of the latter in a loom in which the warp is incorporated or woven into a fabric web.

Sizing of the warp used in the manufacture of woven textile webs by modern high speed weaving methods, is necessary to increase the strength of the warp threads or yarn, or at least to increase their resistance to wear or deterioration resulting from friction and chafing to which they are subjected by the loom harness and reeds, and which, but for such sizing will wear and weaken the threads and result in the production of an inferior cloth. While the thread or yarn may be sized when in skein form, or While running from spool to spool, or directly from yarn cones, it is ordinarily desirable to effect the sizing operation after the warp has been wound on a warp beam, and as it is being wound from the warp beam onto a loom beam, as the final step in the preparation of the warp for insertion in the loom.

So-called slashing machines, or slashers, for sizing the warp as it is being wound on a loom beam are known. Such a machine consists, in general, of supports for the warp and loom beams, a pan or trough containing the sizing material and so-called quetch or squeezing rolls, through and over which the warp passes from the warp beam, steam heated drying rolls or drums, or instead a hot air cabinet, over or through which the warp passes from the squeeze rolls to the loom beam, and means for rotating the various rolls and beams at the proper speed and so as to maintain the proper warp tension.

For the attainment of the proper sizing results, it is,

practically essential, or at least highly desirable, that the proper amount of sizing material be taken up by each short longitudinal section of each warp yarn, and that the sizing operation should be uniform also, in respect to the composition and condition, and particularly the temperature and viscosity, of the sizing material, and in respect to the moisture content and temperature of the yarn as it is wound on the loom beam. The amount of size carried by the yarn as it passes away from the squeeze rolls is affected by the viscosity of the size, the duration of the period during which a yarn section is in contact with the size in sizing bath, and the extent to which size is squeezed into and out of the yarn and eparated from the latter by the squeeze rolls.

The extent of yarn penetration by the size as it passes through the sizing bath, depends upon the bath temperature which directly affects the viscosity of the size. Unless the warp yarn is suitably cool when wound on the loom beam, and then contains moisture for sufficient evaporative cooling in the subsequent weaving operation, the latter will result in an objectionable overheating of the yarn, and fabric formed. Too much moisture in the sized yarn is a disadvantage in the weaving operation and in the woven web. The desirable maximum range of variation in the moisture content of the yarn at the end of the sizing operation, while different with different yarns, is always relatively small. An excessive size content in the yarn as it leaves the squeeze rolls is objectionable not only because it makes the size content of the sized yarn objectionable, but also because it increases the steam consumption of the drying rolls required for a sufficient yarn drying action.

During the past few years, the textile industry has made advances in the preparation of warp yarn for weaving by the installation of various automatic control devices on the Slashers. Of these, stretch meters of one type or another are used by some plants to monitor the processed yarn at periodic intervals. Basically, the methods employed by the manufacturers of the stretch meters are similar in that the surface speed of the warp yarn at the output is continuously monitored and compared with that of the input. The stretch in the yarn is controlled by maintaining a difference in speed between the drive motor of the input roller and the drive motor of the delivery roller. Manufacturers of this type of system specify an error of plus or minus 1% at full-scale indication. In slasher operation Where stretch requirements fall below 3%, equipment error of 1% becomes prohibitive.

In contrast to the conventional feedback control system employed by the prior art, the present invention employs the digital technique in the measurement of the yarn stretch. It is possible by the digital technique employed by the invention to indicate and control the stretch within plus or minus 0.2 of 1%.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide apparatus by which the change in length in yarn due to the processing thereof may be sensed much more accurately than heretofore possible.

It is a further object in conjunction with the preceding object to control elongation or stretch in the processed yarn, and at the will of the operator to change the upper and lower limits which determines the extent of the stretch variation.

Another of the objects of this invention is to make simultaneous linear measurements of the warp yarn entering and leaving a slasher by the use of counting devices. The counting device consists of a contactor wheel assembly riding on the warp yarn, which actuates an electric counter. Similar counting devices are used at the entering and delivery ends of the slasher. After the execution of a predetermined linear measurement of the yarn by the counting device at the entering end, the results of both counting devices are compared. The percent stretch is computed by taking the difference between the results of both counting devices and dividing the difference by the results of the counting device at the entering end.

By selecting 1000 as the predetermined result of the counting device at the entering end, the percent stretch can be readily determined by reading the last three figures of the counting device at the delivery end.

Another object of the invention is the provision made to present a visual indication of the stretch and to record the stretch at desired intervals. At the execution of 1000 counts by the counting device at the entering end, a singleregister printing counter at the delivery end of the slasher records the last three figures which corresponds to the percent stretch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means to automatically control the stretch in the yarn Within the specified limits. Once the lower and upper limits of the stretch are determined for the style of yarn, the controller is set to make the proper correction Without further attention by the slasher operator. In the event stretch exceeds the upper limit, the proper correction signal is transmitted to the DC drive-motor controller or mechanical speed-adjustment device to decrease the stretch. On the other hand, should the stretch fall short of the lower limit, the proper signal is transmitted to the drive to increase the stretch.

The foregoing objects of this invention are accomplished by the apparatus broadly referred to above and described in detail below in conjunction with the differa ent embodiments thereof illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a slasher with input and output counting devices in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of the slasher stretch indicator that may be associated with the slasher of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed schematic drawing of the block diagram of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a block diagram of a stretch controller which may be employed with the slasher of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a detailed schematic diagram of circuitry forming the block diagram of FIGURE 4.

Although the following detailed description of the invention relates to a slasher it is to be understood that this invention is not limited thereto, but may be used in connection with any type of textile machine such as the clip frame, pin frame, sanforizer, etc., which processes yarn or fabrics continuously on their open width. With minor modifications, the described embodiments can be readily adapted for use as a shrinkage indicator, recorder, or controller. For convenience, however, the description proceeds relative to a slasher stretch indicator, recorder, and controller.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a conventional slasher including a draw roll assembly into which textile threads or warp yarn strands 12 are being drawn by use of a DC. drive motor 14. The motor may be coupled by belts or otherwise directly or indirectly, as desired, to two lower rollers 13 and 15 to cause the yarn 12 to be drawn over top rollers 16 and 18 and into a size bath in size box 17, from whence it goes through a squeeze roller assembly 20. The yarn then passes through a drying or cylinder section 22 which includes any desired number of drying drums or rollers 24 which are superheated with steam. As the yarn passes from the cylinder section 22, it moves into the output end assembly 26, being drawn over draw roller 28 downward and back up over roller 30 and finally onto beam 32 by driving motor 34 which is connected to beam 32 in any desired manner.

Most of the stretching that occurs in the warp yarn 12 in its progress through the slasher of FIGURE 1, is in the draw roll assembly area including especially the size bath portion thereof, so that by the time the yarn comes onto the first roller of the drying section 22 most of the stretch has been caused. Some further stretch may be effected, however, on the dry yarn at the section beam and as it is drawn to the front of the slasher over the cans and onto the loom beam. Generally, the output end motor 34 is operated at a constant speed, while the input driving control motor 14 is preferably of the variable speed type so that the amount of tension on the yarn can be regulated and accordingly the amount of stretch thereof controlled.

In accordance with the invention the amount of stretch may be indicated by utilizing circuitry such as that shown in block form in FIGURE 2. The speed of the yarn coming into the slasher of FIGURE 1 is sensed, as is the output speed of the yarn as it exits from the slasher. This is accomplished by input and output contactor wheel and pulse generator assemblies 36 and 38 shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2. As illustrated, these assemblies each include a disc or wheel 40 which respectively ride on the input draw roller 16 and the output roller 28 or on the yarn thereon. In any event, the wheels or disc 40 are caused to have an angular velocity related to the speed of the yarn as it enters and exits the slasher. Furthermore, these assemblies include cam and switching means such as impulsers or the like to effect generation of pulses (for example, three per revolution of wheel 40) which recur at a rate corresponding to the speed of the yarn as it enters and exits the slasher. Therefore the series of pulses that occur on output line 42 from the input contactor wheel assembly or pulse generator corresponds in recurrence rate to the speed of the yarn as it enters the slasher and the series of pulses on output line 44- from output contactor assembly 33 corresponds in recurrence rate to the speed of the yarn out of the slasher.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the invention contemplates the use of a presettable counter 46, which preferably is preset to 1000 for purposes of easily determining the percent change in length of the yarn as it passes through the slasher. Counter 46 is caused to start counting the pulses on line 42 at a time determined by timer 48. When 1000 pulses have been counted by counter 46, its associated counter-attained switch 50 is caused to close, and this energizes the printing section of the printercounter 52, which has been counting the pulses on line 44 beginning at the same time as counter 46 began since counter 52 is also actuated by timer 48. The number of pulses counted by the counter section of the printercounter 52 will be different than the number counted by counter 46, if there has been any change in length of the yarn as it passed through the slasher. For example, if counter 52 has counted 1020 pulses while counter 46 counted 1000, the difierence of 20 is indicative of the percentage stretch, i.e., 2.0%. Since counter 46 is preset to 1000, rather than for example, the difference between the two counts attained at the end of the counting action can be indicated to an accuracy of plus or minus 0.l%. The count attained by the counter section of the printer-counter 52 is, upon closure of switch 50, automatically printed out onto paper tape 5 of the adding machine type for example, as well as being viewable on the counter register wheels through window 56. A reading of the number in either the window or tape immediately gives the percentage stretch in accordance with the above discussion.

To be more explicit as to the details of an indicator and recorder system, reference is made to FIGURE 3 showing schematically the block diagram of FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 3, power for operating the system may be volts AC. for example, and such is indicated as obtainable at terminals 58. This voltage is utilized in its AC. form over the circuit comprising lines as and 62, but for other purposes is rectified by bridge 64- to provide a DC. output across lines 66 and 63. In operation, the sizer drive motor 1 when it gets up to a predetermined running speed, causes the centrifugal switch 70 to close, and this through lines '72 and contact 74 of relay 76, energizes the sychronous motor 78 of timer 80. As indicated by the arrow through the timer, it is variable in its preset time, and when energized as just described, it begins to count down from the time to which it has been preset, for example, three minutes. At the end of its preset time, the timer closes its normally open switch contact 82, and holds same closed until the timer motor 78 is again deenergized by the opening of either the centrifugal switch 70 or relay contact 7'4. Closure of the time contact 32 applies voltage to line 84 and consequent- 1y to line 86 which leads to the input and output contactor wheel assembly impulsers as and 33' and thence to the respective coils 88 and 00 of the 1000 counter 46 and printer-counter 52. The other sides of these counting coils 88 and 90 are connected together and through the double-pole relay contact 92 to the other output line 68. Impulsers 36' and 58 are respectively part of the input and output contactor wheel assemblies or pulse generators 36 and 38 of FIGURES 1 and 2, and it is to be understood that the switching impulsers as and 38 are operated so as to be closed once for each revolution or part of a revolution of the respective wheel 40 as by respective cams or the like, so that the number of pulses to be applied to the counting coils 88 and 90 relate to the speed of the yarn entering and exiting the slasher. The same number of pulses are provided by impulsers 23 d and 38 over any given period of time if, and only if, the yarn input and output speeds are the same.

It is therefore apparent that as soon as the timer contact 82 closes, the 1000 counter 46 and the printercounter 52 begin counting the number of pulses caused by the respective closings of impulsers 36 and 38'. As soon as counter 46 reaches its predetermined number, i.e., as soon as it counts down from 1000 to zero, its coun -attained switch 50 is operated, i.e., in the instance illustrated, closed, and coil 94 of the actuator or relay 96 in turn energizes the actuator. Such energization causes the relay contactors 92 and 98 to move downwardly in the illustration. The movement of contact 98 downwardly provides energization to a portion of the actuator or relay '76, i.e., to the contact 100, to cause actuation of the operation means 102 relative to the count attained by the counter section of the printercounter 52. The operation means 102 in the instance illustrated in FIGURE 3 includes a coil for causing print-out by the printer section of the number attained by the counter section of the printer-counter 52.

It must be remembered, however, that when contact )8 was moved downward, so was contact 92. This immediateiy removed energy from both of the counting coils 88 and 98, thereby stopping the counting action by both counters. At the same time, contact 92 applies energy from line 68 to the delay circuit 104 including resistor 1416 and condenser 188, and to the coil 110 of the actuator or relay 76. The RC. time constant of the delay circuit 104 is such as to delay the energizing of coil 118 for a time suflicient to allow the energized print coil 182 to effect print-out of the count attained by counter 52. An exemplary delay is approximately one second.

As soon as coil 11% is energized, its armature causes the relay switch contacts 74 and 181) to move rightwardly, thereby de-energizing the timer motor 78 and causing its contact 82 to open, preventing re-energization of counters 46 and 52 until they are reset and the timer motor is again re-energized. It will be apparent that the opening of timer contact 82 also de-energizes actuator 96 by removing current from its coil 94. This in turn de-energizes relay coil 116 to allow its contacts 74 and 100 to return leftwardly to their illustrated positions.

However, before relay coil 116 is so tie-energized, its contact 188 is in its rightward position, thereby providing from the actuated contact 98 a DC. current to the coil 112 of a reset actuator or relay 114. Energization of this coil causes its contacts 116 and 118 to close thereby energizing the respective counter reset coils 120 i and 122. Condenser 124-, for example of a 8 rnfd., is provided across the reset coil 112 to help hold it temporarily energized even for a short time after the relay switch 180 is moved leftwardly due to de-energization of relay "76. In this manner it is assured that counter 56 gets fully reset by its resetting coil 120' to the predetermined count desired such as the exemplary 1000 previously stated, and also that the counter section of the printer-counter 52 gets fully reset by its resetting coil 122.

The release or de-energization of relay 76 releases contact 74 to its normal (illustrated) position, whereby the timer motor 78 again gets energized, and the whole cycle of events is repeated every so many minutes according to the time the timer 88 is preset to count down before its contact 82 is closed. This means that the printer will print out a reading of the count attained by the counter section by the printer-counter every so often, for example, every three minutes as above suggested. This gives an operator of the slasher a sufiicient indication of the progressing operation of the slasher, and he can thereby make adjustments in the speed of the sizer drive motor 14 to maintain the percentage stretch in the yarn within a desired range.

Instead of effecting just a readout (printed or visual) of the percentage change and then manually correcting the speed of the sizer drive motor, such can be accomplished automatically in accordance with the present invention as set forth in FIGURES 4 and 5. In this instance, when the presettable counter 46 attains the count of 1000 after it has been energized by timer 48, its countattained switch 59 is closed to el feotively energize logic relay circuitry 124. In this embodiment, the counting means which counts the series of pulses generated by the output contactor wheel assembly 38, includes a lower limit preset counter 126 and an upper limit preset counter 128, which respectively have count-attained switches 130 and 132. According to which one or ones of these lower limit and upper limit switches 130 and 132 gets closed, the relay logic circuit 124 applies an output signal on line 134 or 136 to cause the reversible control motor 138 to rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise respectively. In turn, this adjusts rheostat 141) and controls the speed of the sizer driver motor 14. The whole operation is timed by timer 48, and the full circuit may take the detailed structure indicated schematically in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURE 5, 115 volts A.C. may be attained at input terminals 142 when master switch 144 is closed. As before, centrifugal switch 70 is operated by the sizer drive motor 14 as indicated by dash line 146 in FIG- URE 5. When motor 14 gets up to a predetermined rtuining speed, then switch 70 closes, and in the instance illustrated in FIGURE 5, current is then applied to a thermal delay switch 148. This delay may be of the order of 20 seconds for example, and is accomplished by current passing through a resistive heating element 150 until the switching element 152 is closed. It will be noted that the heating element or resistor 150' has its circuit completed via line 154 through a relay contact 156 of an actuator or relay 158. However, as soon as the delay element closes its switch 152, then the coil 160 of relay 158 is energized and this brings the normally up relay contacts 156 and 162 to their respective downward positions. Contact 156 thereupon bridges the delay switch element 152 and maintains coil 160 energized.

The 115 volts attained by input terminal 142 in FIG- URE 5 is applied through transformer 164 to a rectifying bridge 166 that applies a D.C. output voltage across lines 168 and 170. Therefore, as soon as relay 158 is energized and its contact 162 is thereby moved downwardly, the DC. potential on line 168 is applied via line 172 through the unactuated contact 174 of the actuator or relay 176. This applies voltage through the impulser switches 36 and 38 to the coil 88 of the 1000 counter 46, and to the coils 176 and 178 of the lower and upper limit counters 126 and 128 respectively.

As soon as the count of 1000 is attained by counter 46, its switch 58 is closed, and this causes completion of a circuit to energize coil 180 of relay 176. Thereupon, contact 174 is moved downwardly and applies the energy on line 172 to line 182, and thence to the delay circuit 184, which includes resistor 186 and condenser 188. This delay circuit, in turn, applies energy to the coil 1% of an actuator or relay 192. As a matter of fact, because of the serial relationship of condenser 188 and coil 1%, which are in parallel with resistor 186, the voltage across lines 182 and 170, as caused by the downward movement of contact 174, is immediately applied fully across coil 190, and thereafter the charge on condenser 188 begins to build up and eventually removes the voltage completely from across coil 190'. The time constant associated with condenser 188 and resistor 186 is relatively short, for example a few seconds, so that the three reset coils 194 are on only momentarily and not long enough to be burned out or otherwise damaged. That is, it should be appreciated from the circuit in FIGURE 5 that when coil 190 is energized, it closes the relay switch contacts 196 and 198, and the former completes a circuit from line 172 back to line 170 through the reset coils 194 for each of the counters 46, 126 and 128. These reset coils may be of the nature that they would be damaged it energized for too long a period. Accordingly, delay circuit 184 is for the purpose of rather quickly absorbing the energy which was immediately impressed upon coil 1%, so that the relay 192 becomes de-energized after a short period of time.

The resetting of the counters by coils 194 causes reopening of the count-attained switch 50, so for safety purposes in assuring that the counters all get fully reset, provision is made of a condenser 290 across the relay 180, along with the provision of a normally open relay contact 202 which bridges the count-attained switch 50. As will become apparent below, this bridging contact 292 gets closed in response to the momentary closing of relay contact 198, but to be sure that relay 175 is maintained actuated until counter switch 50 can be bridged, condenser 20% parallels the relay coil 180 to help hold it energized even for a moment after switch 50 opens.

In this embodiment, a motorized timer 204 is also employed, but not in the same manner as above described in relation to FIGURE 3. There, the motorized timer 80 was employed to begin each cycle by closing its switch at a delayed time. This function in the embodiment of FIGURE 5 is initially accomplished by the thermal delay unit 143 which after a period of twenty seconds for example, closes not only its own switch 152 but also, in effect, the relay switch 162. In the FIGURE 5 embodiment, these switches stay closed throughout the operation of the circuitry, unless the running speed of the slasher goes too slow and causes the centrifugal switch 7th to open. Timer 2194 does etlect a cycling operation, however, in the FIGURE 5 embodiment also, and includes a normally closed contact 206.

As soon as actuator or relay 1512 is energized to close its contacts, the momentary closing of contact 198 energizes the synchronous timing motor 298 by completing a circuit which extends from input terminals 142 through switch 144, actuated relay contact 156, line 210, closed timer contact 206, line 212, closed relay contact 1%, line 214, motor 203; and also energizes the relay coil 216. Even though relay contact 198 soon opens due to the de-energiz'ing of coil 1% by the delay circuit 184, the potential initially applied to line 214 by the closing of contact 198 energizes the coil 216 of relay 213, causing its contacts 202 and 220 to movedc-wnward into a closed position, with the efiect that contact 1% is bridged by holding contact 220, to maintain coil 216 and motor 208 energized. That is, they are maintained energized until the time preset for the timer 204, which time is variable as indicated by the arrow through the timer, runs out and causes the timer contact 206 to open. Condenser 222 may be disposed across contact 2% to prevent arcing or pitting of the contacting elements during the opening and closing of the switching contact 2%.

While the timer 204 has its contact 2% in its normally closed condition, an operation is taking place relative to the count attained by the upper and lower limit counters 126 and 128. As is indicated by dash lines 224 and 226 respectively associated with the upper and lower limit counters, these counters have respective limit switches 228 and 230 that are normally open but which close if the respective counter counts beyond its predetermined upper or lower limit. These upper and lower limit switches 228 and 230 are connected in parallel to the timer energized line 232, and extend respectively to coils 234 and 236 of respective relays 238 and 240.

To understand the operation of the circuitry of FIG- URE 5 perhaps better, an example is now set forth. Assuming counter 46 is preset to count down from 1000 to zero before it closes its switch 51 let the lower limit of stretch be indicated by a count of 1025, and the upper limit stretch be indicated by a count of 1050. Then, if at the end of the counting action of counter 46, i.e., when it closes its switch 50 after counting 1000 pulses gen erated by the speed of the yarn into the slasher, if the lower limit counter has not counted 1025 pulses then its switch 23%} will still be open. This signifies that the amount of stretch is not enough but needs to be increased. It will be appreciated that if counter 126 has not reached the lower limit of 1025, the upper limit counter 128 will not have reached the lower limit or its own upper limit either, so its switch 228 will still be open. Accordingly, neither of the relay coils 234 and 236 will be energized, so the relay contacts 242, 244, 246 and 248 remain in the respective positions in which they are illustrated in FIGURE 5.

it will be recalled that the momentary closure of relay contact 198 not only causes energization of timer motor 203 and a consequent start of the count down by the timer to zero to elfect opening of its contact 206, but also energizes relay coil 216, to effect a holding circuit via contact 220. At the same time, its contact 202 is closed, and it may be noted that this contact by virtue of its connection via line 250 bridges the count attained contact 50 of the 1000 counter 46. This provides that the full reset operation of the three different counters by coils 194 is fully assured even though the counter contact St re-opens at the beginning of reset.

in addition to energizing timer motor 203 and relay coil 216, the potential applied to line 214 energizes transformer 252 and causes the reversible control motor 138 to turn clockwise or counterclockwise or not at all, in order to regulate the field control rheostat 140 of the sizer drive motor 14, in accordance with which, if either, of the upper and lower limit relay contacts 244 and 243 is closed. As indicated, contact 248 is normally closed, while contact 244 is normally open. Therefore, if the lower limit of 1025 has not been reached, relay contact 244 remains open and relay contact 248 remains closed. This latter contact therefore completes a circuit from the transformer output line 254 to the reversible motor input line 134 causing the motor to turn in one direction and move the arm of the field rheostat 14% in a direction to cause an increase in the stretch of the yarn, i.e., to cause a decrease in the speed of the sizer drive motor 14.

This decreasing of the sizer drive motor speed relative to the speed of the output motor 34 in FIGURE 1, causes more stretch to occur in the yarn passing through the slasher. Therefore, as soon as timer motor 208 runs out and opens its contact 206, power is removed from line 212, and consequently from line 214, so the timer motor stops and the holding circuit is opened since relay coil 216 is de-energized to effect opening of its contact 220. The opening of contact 202 across the already opened count-attained switch 50 de-energizes relay coil (thereby causing its contact 174 to return to its normal upward position) so that the counter coils 188, 186 and 176 are again energized once the impulsing switches 36 and 38' close.

This efliects a new counting cycle at the end of which the number of pulses counted by counters 126 and 128 is again sensed, and assuming that the previously mentioned decrease in speed of the sizer drive motor caused the number of counted pulses at the slasher output end to be 1035, then upon actuation of the timer motor as previously described, no change in the position of the arm of the field rheostat of control 14 is effected by the motor 148. This is because the preset lower limit of counter 12s was exceeded causing its count-attained or limit switch 23% to be closed and effecting energization of relay coil 236. In turn, relay contact 246 closes and effects a holding circuit for coil 236, so that even if the counter switch 230 opens before the timer motor 2% times out, relay 246 will remain energized. At the same time, relay contact 248 opened, and since the preset limit set for the upper limit counter 128 was not reached by that counter, its count-attained or upper limit switch 228 was not closed and consequently relay switches 242 and 244 remained opened. Therefore, the potential on transformer output line 254 cannot be conveyed through either of the relay switches 244 and 248 during this cycle, so control motor 138 is not turned.

However, if during the next cycle which starts as soon as timer 294 times out and opens its contact 206, all as previously explained, the amount of stretch has increased to the point of exceeding even the upper limit set therefor by the number preset in the upper limit counter 128, then both the upper and lower limit counter switches 228 and 226 are closed when their respective limits have been reached. Consequently, when the timer is energized, both of the upper and lower relay coils 234 and 236 are operated and held energized by their respective holding contacts 242 and 246. Additionally, their contacts 244 and 248 will have been operated so that the former is closed and the latter opened, to cause a signal from transformer output line to be applied to the reversible motor 138 via line 136. This is for the purpose of causing a decrease in the amount of stretch, so consequently the control motor 138 is turned in such a direction that the resulting change in the arm of the field rheostat 14d of the sizer drive motor 14 effects an increase in the speed of that motor. Accordingly, during the time that the timer motor 203 is timing out, such a change in the arm of the field rheostat 140 is occurring, but this change is stopped when the timer contact 206 is opened, and assuming all other variables in the complete system remain the same or substantially the same as previously, then the amount of stretch will be back into the allowable range determined by the upper and lower limits preset in counters 126 and 128. If the correction does not put the stretch back into that range, then the next cycle should effect same without question.

Lamps or lights 256 and 258 may be employed if desired to give a visual indication of whether the stretch is being increased or decreased during the instant cycle.

As previously indicated, timer 204 is preferably adjustable in order that the amount of time the reversible motor 136 is allowed to rotate in the instant correcting direction may be optimized. That is, if the correction proves too great, it can be reduced, or if it is too little, it can be increased, simply by increasing or decreasing the time the control motor is energized.

It is important to the successful operation of this invention that all system variable besides stretch remain substantially the same from cycle to cycle if stretch is to be properly controlled. Among such variables that ought to be checked are the temperature of the sizing bath, viscosity of the size therein, moisture content of the fixed yarn, and the tension on the warp beams that feed the yarn into the slasher. These beams feed the yarn first to the draw roll assembly it there is one, and then, or directly to, the size box. Tension on these beams is controlled, in most cases, through ropes strung over the beam head acting as a brake band thereon, with tension on these ropes being supplied by iron weights rang ing from one to five pounds or more per beam. An increase or decrease in this tension will affect the stretch considerably. This change is much more significant when a slasher is not equipped with a draw roll assembly and the yarn goes directly from the warp beam to the size box so that the pulling or nip point is at the squeeze rolls. This means that a short section of yarn, possibly two feet, is wet during the pulling process from the size box squeeze rolls to the section beams. While the yarn is wet, it is much more susceptible of stretch. To reduce the criticalness of a change in weights on the warp beams, a draw roll assembly may be used so that the pulling is done with dry yarn just prior to being fed into the size box and tension between the draw roll assembly and the nip of the size box can therefore be separately regulated to the desired amount.

It is apparent that the apparatus indicated in FIG- URE will automatically control the stretch of the processed warp yarn within the specified limits. The digital technique employed by this invention provides for maximum accuracy in the measurement of the stretch of the yarn. The timer 204 in FIGURE 5 and 86 in FIG- URE 3 operates in the respective instances to allow cycling of the respective systems at variable times, and in the FIGURE 5 embodiment feedback control is utilized to keep the amount of stretch within a desired range. In both instances, stretch is determined by the speed at which the draw rolls feed the yarn into the size bath, excessive speed of the draw roll assembly causing the warp yarn to slacken while reduced speed causes the yarn to stretch. In the foregoing disclosure, it has been indicated that there are separate motors at the input and output ends of the slasher and, of course, there would be a means for driving the drying rollers in the cylinder section 22, but all of the sections of the slasher may be driven by a common motor driving a line shaft, or jack shaft connected through chain or gear drives to the respective sections, with the input draw roller and bath dip roller being connected to the si aft through a variable speed transmission or mechanical speed-adjustment device, such as a Reeves or PIV drive, in which event the rheostat control 133 in FIGURES 4 and 5 would eilect a change in the amount of stretch by adjusting the variable speed transmission. In the event no draw roll assembly is used, the rheostat control motor 138 can be connected directly to the DC. motor driving size box. In this case the size box squeeze rolls act as the draw roll in that they pull yarn from the section beams and feed it to the cylinder section. This variation can be used with either the multi-control DC. drives or the single motor variable speed transmission drive.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided a system and apparatus for accomplishing all of the object's above stated, along with others and further features and advantages which one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate after reading this disclosure. Modifications will also become apparent, but it is to be realized that all changes in the apparatus and system envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art are contemplated and covered to the extent they are included in the definition of this invention established by the bounds of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile processor for processing textile material and including an input end having driving means for drivingly receiving the material to be processed and an output end including means for drawing processed material thereto at a predetermined rate, said material being subject to change in length due to said processing, the improvement comprising: means at said input end for providing a first series of pulses having a recurrence rate corresponding to the speed of said material into said processor, means at said output end for providing a second series of pulses having a recurrence rate corresponding to the speed of said processed mat rial out of said processor, a presettable digital counter and count-attained switch interconnected so as to count the pulses in said first series and operate said switch upon counting a predetermined nurnber of pulses, digital counting means for counting the pulses in said second series, delay-operated switch means for initiating counting action by said counter and counting means a predetermined time after the delay-operated switch means is energized, means for energizing said delay-operated switch means when said driving means reaches a desired running speed and for deenergizing same below that speed, first actuating means coupled to said delay-operated switch means and said count-attained switch for ending the counting action by said counter and counting means upon operation of said count-attained switch as aforesaid, operation means for causing an operation relative to the count attained by said counting means when said counting ends as aforesaid, the ditierence between the count of the said counter and counting means being related to the change in length of said material passing through the processor during the instant counting period, means for resetting said counter and counting means, and second actuating means and connected second delay means coupled to be energized via said first actuating means for operating said operation and resetting means in accordance with said second delay means.

2. The combination in claim 1 wherein said operation means includes means for indicating at least whether the count attained by the said counting means when said counting ends is above or below a given number.

3. The combination in claim 2 wherein said operation means includes readout means for indicating the count of said counting means and being coupled serially through said first and second actuation means for energization when said count-attained switch is closed at the end of said counting action before the said second delay means allows energization of the second actuation means.

4. The combination in claim 1 wherein said operation means includes means for controlling the speed of said input end driving means in accordance with said difierence between the count of the said counter and counting means.

5. The combination in claim 4 wherein said textile processor is a slasher.

6. The combination in claim 4 wherein said counting means includes an upper limit counter and a lower limit counter connected in parallel each to count the said second series of pulses and having a respective limit switch to operate upon reaching its said limit, said controlling means being coupled to said limit switches for operation by the latter to change the speed of said driving means only if the count attained by said upper and lower limit counters, when the said count-attained switch of the said presettable counter is operated at the end of the counting action, is outside the said upper and lower limits set by the counting means.

7. The combination in claim 6 including timer means connected to said controlling means for allowing any driving means speed change in either direction to take place only during a predetermined period starting with the energization of said second actuation means via said first actuation means following closing of the said count attained switch at t .e end of said counting action.

8. The combination in claim 7 wherein the second delay means causes immediate energization of said second actuation means which endures only a period of time short relative to said predetermined period whereby the said resetting means is operated for only said short period, said controlling and timer means including a holding circuit for retaining same energized for said predetermined period notwithstanding deenergization of said second actuation means by said second delay means at the end of said short period.

9. The combination in claim 8 including means for maintaining said first actuation means energized during said predetermined period even if said count-attained switch is opened during that period by the operation of said resetting means.

10. In combination, a slasher for sizing threads of V textiles including an input end for receiving said threads,

an output end, and means for causing the threads to move through the slasher from input end to output end, said threads subject to change in length in passing through said slasher, means at said input end for providing a first series of pulses having a recurrence rate corresponding to the speed of said threads into said slasher, means at said output end for providing a second series of pulses having a recurrence rate similarly corresponding to the speed of said threads out of said slasher, a preset counter and switch interconnected so as to count the pulses in said first series and operate said switch upon counting 100% pulses, counting means for counting th pulses in said second series, timer means for initiating counting action by said counter and counting means a predetermined time after the timer means is energized, means for energizing said timer means only whil the thread moving means is up to running speed, first actuating means coupled to said timer means and said switch for ending the counting action by said counter and counting means while said timer means is energized and upon operation of said switch by said counter at the count of 1000, operation means coupled to be energized via said actuating means to cause an operation relative to the count attained by said counting means when said counting ends as aforesaid, the difierence between the said attained count and 1000 being indicative of the percentage change in length of threads passing through the slasher during the instant counting period, means operative when energized to reset said counter and counting means, second actuating means and connected delay means coupled to be energized via said first actuating means for deenergizing said operation means and timer means a given time after the first actuating means ends the counting as aforesaid and concurrently energizing said reset means, the deenergization of said timer means being operative due to its aforesaid coupling to said first actuating means to deenergize same and thereby to deenergize said second actuating means to cause reenergization of said timer means and consequently a recount by said counter and counting means after another runout of said predetermined time.

11. In a textile processor for processing textile material and including an input end having driving means for drivingly receiving the material to be processed and an output end including means for drawing processed material thereto at a predetermined rate, said material being subject to change in length due to said processing, the improvement comprisin means at said input end for providing a first series of pulses having a recurrence rate corresponding to the speed of said material into said processor,

means at said output end for providing a second series of pulses having a recurrence rate corresponding to the speed of said processed material out of said processor,

a presettable digital counter and countttained switch interconnected so as to count the pulses in said first series and operate said switch upon counting a predetermined number of pulses,

digital counting means for counting the pulses in said second series,

delay-operated switch means for initiating counting action by said counter and counting means a predetermined time atter the delay-operated switch means is energized,

means for energizing said delay-operated switch means when said driving means reaches a desired running speed and for deenergizing same below that speed,

nrst actuating means coupled to said delay-operated switch means and said count-attained switch for ending the counting action by said counter and counting means upon operation of said count-attained switch as aforesaid,

the difierence between the count of the said counter and counting means being related to the change in length of said material passin through the said processor during the instant counting period,

operation means for causing an operation relative to the count attained by said counting means,

means for resetting said counter and counting means,

and

second actuating means and connected second delay means coupled to be energized via said first actuating means and normally connecting said operation means to said first actuation means for operating said operation means during the delay of said second clay means followin the aforesaid operation of said count-attained switch and for operating said resetting means folowing the period of said second delay.

12. In a textile processor for processing textile material and having an input end with driving means for drivingly receiving the material to be processed and an output end including means for drawing processed material therethrough at a predetermined rate, said material being subject to change in length due to said processing, the improvement comprising:

means at said input end for providing a first series of pulses having a recurrence rate corresponding to the speed of said material into said processor,

means at said output end for providing a second series of pulses having a recurrence rate corresponding to the speed of said processed material out of said processor,

a presettable digital counter having a count-attained switch connected so as to count the pulses in said first series and to close said switch at the end of the counting period effected upon the counting by said counter of a predetermined number of pulses,

an upper limit counter and a lower limit counter both coupled to count the pulses in said second series,

each of said upper and lower limit counters having respective count-attained switches operated when the count of said second series pulses exceeds the respective upper and lower limits,

delay-operated switch means for initiating counting action by said presettable and upper and lower limit counters a predetermined time after the delay-operated switch means is energized,

means for energizing said delay-operated switch means when said driving means reaches a desired running speed and for deenergizing same below that speed,

first actuating means coupled to said delay-operated switch means and to said count-attained switch of said presettable counter for deenergizing that counter and the upper and lower limit counters upon operation of the count-attained switch of the presettable counter at the end of said counting period,

the difference between the count then or" the presettable counter and that of the upper and lower limit countters being related to the change in length of said material passing through the said processor during the instant counting period,

means for varying the speed of said driving means for a predetermined length of time and in accordance with the positions of the count-attained switches of said upper and lower limit counters at the end of said counting period,

means for resetting said presettable and upper and lower limit counters,

second actuating means and connected second delay means coupled to he energized via said first actuating means at the end of said counting period for operating said resetting means for the period of said second delay and for energizing said speed varying means, and

means for bridging the count-attained switch of. said presettable counter during the resetting of said counters to assure complete resetting thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,158,137 McConnell May 16, 1939 2,447,208 Rendel Aug. 17, 1948 2,525,182 Reed Oct. 10, 1950 2,852,195 Coleman et al Sept. 16, 1958 2,874,900 Linderman Feb. 24, 1959 2,931,979 Uphoif et al. Apr. 5, 1960 2,982,158 Orbom May 2, 1961 

1. IN A TEXTILE PROCESSOR FOR PROCESSING TEXTILE MATERIAL AND INCLUDING AN INPUT END HAVING DRIVING MEANS FOR DRIVINGLY RECEIVING THE MATERIAL TO BE PROCESSED AND AN OUTPUT END INCLUDING MEANS FOR DRAWING PROCESSED MATERIAL THERETO AT A PREDETERMINED RATE, SAID MATERIAL BEING SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN LENGTH DUE TO SAID PROCESSING, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: MEANS AT SAID INPUT END FOR PROVIDING A FIRST SERIES OF PULSES HAVING A RECURRENCE RATE CORRESPONDING TO THE SPEED OF SAID MATERIAL INTO SAID PROCESSOR, MEANS AT SAID OUTPUT END FOR PROVIDING A SECOND SERIES OF PULSES HAVING A RECURRENCE RATE CORRESPONDING TO THE SPEED OF SAID PROCESSED MATERIAL OUT OF SAID PROCESSOR, A PRESETTABLE DIGITAL COUNTER AND COUNT-ATTAINED SWITCH INTERCONNECTED SO AS TO COUNT THE PULSES IN SAID FIRST SERIES AND OPERATE SAID SWITCH UPON COUNTING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF PULSES, DIGITAL COUNTING MEANS FOR COUNTING THE PULSES IN SAID SECOND SERIES, DELAY-OPERATED SWITCH MEANS FOR INITIATING COUNTING ACTION BY SAID COUNTER AND COUNTING MEANS A PREDETERMINED TIME AFTER THE DELAY-OPERATED SWITCH MEANS IS ENERGIZED, MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID DELAY-OPERATED SWITCH MEANS WHEN SAID DRIVING MEANS REACHES A DESIRED RUNNING SPEED AND FOR DEENERGIZING SAME BELOW THAT SPEED, FIRST ACTUATING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID DELAY-OPERATED SWITCH MEANS AND SAID COUNT-ATTANINED SWITCH FOR ENDING THE COUNTING ACTION BY SAID COUNTER AND COUNTING MEANS UPON OPERATION OF SAID COUNT-ATTAINED SWITCH AS AFORESAID, OPERATION MEANS FOR CAUSING AN OPERATION RELATIVE TO THE COUNT ATTAINED BY SAID COUNTING MEANS WHEN SAID COUNTING ENDS AS AFORESAID, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COUNT OF SAID COUNTER AND COUNTING MEANS BEING RELATED TO THE CHANGE IN LENGTH OF SAID MATERIAL PASSING THROUGH THE PROCESSOR DURING THE INSTANT COUNTING PERIOD, MEANS FOR RESETTING SAID COUNTER AND COUNTING MEANS, AND SECOND ACTUATING MEANS AND CONNECTED SECOND DELAY MEANS COUPLED TO BE ENERGIZED VIA SAID FIRST ACTUATING MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID OPERATION AND RESETTING MEANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID SECOND DELAY MEANS. 